Written Answers Friday 5 June 2009

Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing regulations on the welfare of greyhounds.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have no plans to introduce regulations on the welfare of greyhounds. The provisions of section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which requires those responsible for animals to take steps to ensure that the needs of such animals are met, is sufficient to ensure the welfare of greyhounds.

  Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been developed on the welfare of seals by it and members of the Scottish Seals Forum.

Richard Lochhead: A code of practice was developed to support the Moray Firth Seal Management Plan with input from Scottish Government and stakeholders, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

  It is intended that this code will provide a starting point for consideration of welfare concerns by the Scottish Seals Forum in the proposed new licensing scheme.

  Copies of the Moray Firth Seal Management Code of Practice have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48276).

Community Safety

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the strategic review of public space CCTV in Scotland will be published.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce regulations governing public space CCTV and the management of data captured.

Fergus Ewing: I have recently received the completed strategic review of public space CCTV in Scotland.

  My officials will shortly consult with key partners to confirm the accuracy of its findings. I intend that this should be a quick exercise and that the review is published as soon as practicable after this consultation.

  We will then be best placed to consider the implications of the findings and recommendations in the review, alongside a number of other issues.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug addicts have re-entered drug treatment programmes in the Lothians region in each year since 1999.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Drug Misuse Database collects data on new patients/clients who attend a service for assessment of drug misuse problems. An enhanced system, introduced April 2006, is being rolled out and will enable the monitoring of clients and treatments received.

Education

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Minister for Schools and Skills last met officials from Aberdeen City Council and what issues were discussed.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met officials from Aberdeen City Council and what issues were discussed.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with Aberdeen City Council in relation to teacher numbers and reducing class sizes since 26 March 2009.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has met Aberdeen City Council to "question why not every council in Scotland has managed to achieve the teacher numbers that we would all wish" as stated by the First Minister on 26 March 2009 ( Official Report c. 16247).

Keith Brown: Education and Lifelong Learning Ministers regularly meet with a wide range of representatives from local authorities to discuss matters of joint interest. For example, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met with Aberdeen City Council on 16 January 2008 to discuss matters relating to children and young people.

  Education and Lifelong Learning Ministers are currently in the process of meeting with all local authorities in Scotland to discuss progress on a range of priority issues, including relevant Concordat commitments that fall within the portfolio. The Minister for Schools and Skills met with elected members and senior officials from Aberdeen City Council on 26 May 2009 to discuss these issues.

Enterprise

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing to small and medium-sized companies in North Ayrshire during the economic downturn.

Jim Mather: Small and medium-sized businesses in North Ayrshire can obtain comprehensive help and advice, specifically addressing the challenges arising from the current economic downturn, from the Business Gateway via its website, telephone enquiry service and local advisors. Other measures we have put in place to help small businesses include; the Small Business Bonus Scheme which is helping tens of thousands of small business by removing or reducing business rates; extending the eligibility for small businesses to apply for Regional Selective assistance grants across the whole of Scotland, and launching BusinessClub Scotland to help Scottish businesses get maximum benefit from major events being held in Scotland. The alignment of local government, Skills Development Scotland and other public bodies with business has also contributed to attaining the goal of increased sustainable growth.

Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its best estimate is of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by burning one tonne of Scottish coal in a power station that does not have any form of carbon capture technology.

Jim Mather: Figures supplied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency suggest burning one tonne of coal would produce a range of between 2.5 to 2.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

  Coal used in power stations in Scotland comes from various geographical locations. Due to the differing composition and moisture content of coal types, it is not possible to provide a more precise figure.

  Carbon Capture and Storage Technology (CCS) has the potential to reduce emissions from power stations by up to 90 per cent. The Scottish Government supports CCS as a critical new technology that would make a significant contribution towards carbon emission reductions.

  Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to local authorities against the dropping of used chewing gum in public places.

Richard Lochhead: The act of throwing down, dropping or depositing and leaving chewing gum, like all types of litter, is an offence under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and subject to a fine of up to £2,500. Alternatively, the person may be offered the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty fine, the level of which is currently £50.

  Designated local authority officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to those who litter. As independent bodies, whether local authorities empower officials to issue notices is a matter for each local authority. They are encouraged to do so by the Scottish Government.

Fisheries

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to restore the two salmon and sea trout fisheries in Loch Maree and Loch Stack.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has funded, through the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), local trusts to produce Fishery Management Plans which provide the background to the fisheries and identify management actions to promote sustainably managed freshwater fish and fisheries resources.

  The Wester Ross Fisheries Trust’s plan includes proposals for the restoration of the Loch Maree salmon and sea trout fisheries. Projects to date undertaken by a range of partners including the Trust, the local District Salmon Fishery Board, proprietors and the local authority have included habitat restoration and stocking programmes.

  The West Sutherland Fisheries Trust’s Plan includes measures for the conservation of its wild salmon and sea trout populations. At Loch Stack the proprietors have introduced a variety of measures including catch and release, reduced fishing hours, restrictions on fishing methods, habitat improvements and limited stocking with native populations.

  The Scottish Government welcomes these local initiatives by boards, trusts and proprietors which along with work at the national level such as through its support for the RAFTS Fisheries Management Planning Programme and the Marine Scotland Science Programme for Freshwater Fisheries are in the long term interests of sustainable Scottish salmon and sea trout stocks.

  John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that Clyde prawn vessels catching less than 1.5% cod achieve an exemption from the Cod Recovery Plan days at sea effort restrictions.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have requested the European Commission exempt two groups of Scottish Nephrops vessels, one which fishes in areas of low cod in the Minches and the other in the eastern Firth of Clyde, which catch very little or no cod at all from the fishing effort management regime. The Scottish Submission has now been considered by the Commission's scientific advisors, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Fisheries Committee (STECF). Further information has been requested which will be provided. The Commission will now consider the STECF advice. We continue to press for an early decision from the Commission and stand ready to boost our onboard observer programme to collect further evidence for further groups of vessels to be exempt.

Housing

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what indices were used to make the Housing Association Grant allocations announced in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme 2009-10 and whether these indices alter according to region or are determined and applied nationally.

Alex Neil: Allocation of Affordable Housing Investment Programme resources for 2009-10 was based on the following principles:

  Core programmes for all local authority areas would be reinstated to 2007-08 core programme levels;

  Top slicing commitments (arising e.g. from previous stock transfer agreements) would be honoured;

  Core funding for Glasgow and Edinburgh (combined) would be maintained in line with plans announced under the current Spending Review, and

  The small balance of resources (after the above principles are taken into account) would be added to the allocation of the 16 councils with greatest homelessness pressures and housing shortfalls.

  The measure of greatest homelessness pressure was based on the work of Dr Andrew Waugh. The measure of housing shortfall was based on the report by Professor Glen Bramley on Local Housing Need and Affordability Model for Scotland.

  Allocations with each local authority area reflect the priorities of the local authority set out in its Strategic Housing Investment Plan, and include Housing Association Grant and other grants.

Procurement

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service expects to announce the outcome of the application process for its tender list.

Jim Mather: The announcement of the outcome of this tendering process is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Steve Graham, Managing Director of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, to contact you directly.

Voluntary Organisations

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what grant funding is available to community and voluntary groups to install microgeneration equipment in community and church halls.

Jim Mather: The Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme provides grant funding to non-profit making community organisations for technical support, relevant training and the installation of renewable energy equipment. Under this scheme advice is free and grants of up to £150,000 are available. An independent charity, Community Energy Scotland, manages the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. It can be contacted on 01349 860 120 and via its website at www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk for further advice or information on how to make an application.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-23564 which was originally answered on 15 May 2009, has been corrected: see page 6549 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-09/wa0604.htm.